2026 Spitting Out Treasure....

All kinds of great music already released and about to be released this year.

Here's a taste:

JACK HARLON AND THE DEAD CROWS: INEXORABLE OPPOSITES

Picked this up on a recommendation and was pleasantly surprised:

Another excellent Australian band:

Tim Coutts-Smith: Vocals, Guitar

Jordan Richardson: Guitar

Brayden Becher: Drums

Liam Barry: Bass

NEW MEXICAN DOOM CULT: ZIGGURAT

Another recommendation I'm ecstatic I followed:

Stoner-Doom perfection from Sweden:

Nils - guitars, vocals
Fredrik - bass
David - guitars
Magnus - drums

MOTORPSYCHO:THE GAIA II SPACE CORPS

 

The mighty Motorpsycho return with another gem of an album, only a year after releasing my personal number 2 favorite album of 2025.  A week after release, I'm enjoying this one just as much.  

Norway's equivalent of Pink Floyd:

Bent Sæther – rhythm & lead guitars, lead & background vocals, bass 

Hans Magnus "Snah" Ryan – electric sitar, background vocals

Reine Fiske: Electric lead guitars

Olaf Olsen: Drums

DESERT COLOSSUS: APPARATUS

Dutch stoner rock veterans have released their finest album yet, and for some reason, decided to offer it as a "Name Your Own Price" release.  This appears destined for my 2026 top ten; I can't stop playing it.

Frank Zoomer: Vocals, Guitar

Leon van Wijk: Guitar, Background Vocals

Tom Collé: Bass, Accordion, Bacground Vocals

Frank Fey: Drums, Background Vocals, Synths, Trumpet

WEEDPECKER: V

Polish stoner rock veterans are contending for both album of the year and album art of the year.

Piotr Dobry - guitar,vox,synths
Piotr Kuks - bass
Zbigniew Promiński- drums
Piotr Sadza - sytnhs
Tomasz Walczak - synths

And last, but not least....

ROB ZOMBIE: THE GREAT SATAN

If you have read many of my posts over the years, you know I've always had a soft spot for Rob Zombie.  I've enjoyed whatever musical avenue he's gone down over the years, with my only complaint being that the albums are usually not long enough.  After years with John 5 on guitar, Rob's brought back Mike Riggs, who played on the Sinister Urge and Hellbilly Deluxe albums (both among my very favorites).  This album is getting very good reviews, and count me among the fans (although once again I do wish it was longer!)

Rob Zombie is from Haverhill, Massachusetts.

His current band:

Rob Zombie: Lead Vocals

Mike Riggs: Guitar

Rob Nicholson (Blasko): Bass

Ginger Fish: Drums

To say this video is not for kids would be one of the most egregious understatements of all time.  I'm pretty sure there are people out there who believe watching this entire video stamps your ticket to hell.  Long story made short: 

One of my favorite albums of 2021 gets one of the the most epic videos of all time.

You could pause this at any instant and marvel at how much detail went into that scene.

Full-screen recommended

ULTRA RARE

For no other reason than it just popped into my head, conjuring the forces of Schoolhouse Rock, here's a clip from Rob Zombie's undercelebrated animated movie "The Haunted World of El Superbeasto"

If anyone working for Rob wants me to take this down, just say the word.  In my mind I'm just trying to give some love and encourage people to find the movie.

I just got the new Wo Fat CD in the mail, 5 days prior to its release date, for pre-ordering from Ripple Music on Bandcamp.  I will be playing this all week (it's really good) and will have a review next weekend.

2021 Top Twenty Stoner Rock Albums (#20-11)

Each tune is one I've never posted or included in a playlist.  
Since these are the best albums of the year, they're deep enough that I don't need to 
re-post in order to make a classic playlist:

          

#20: "Coffin Face" by Table Scraps

Monster Magnet introduced me to this great band by covering one of their songs, "Motorcycle (Straight To Hell)".  Now Table Scraps has a new album, and it's got lots of great catchy tracks.  The song I've included here has a real Baby Woodrose feel.

#19: "Paralyzed" by Paralyzed

Great debut album that sneaks up on you and gets better with each listen.  Really strong vocals and guitar.    

#18:  "Devil's Bridge" by Dope Smoker

Dope Smoker sticks with their formula and manages to get better at it with each release.  Excessive volume will help you to understand what this is all about.
   

#17:  "Stoners Rule" by Stöner 

Brant Bjork keeps on making timeless stoner rock.  Another must-have album from one of rock's most legendary musicians

#16: "The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy" by Rob Zombie

Rob Zombie has carved out his own niche in rock music, and has surpassed everything he did with White Zombie.  This incarnation of the band is elite, and the new album is longer than the last one

         

#15: "Memento Mori, Motherfucker" by Stone Cadaver 

          
Brutal heavy rock music, mixed to perfection.  Great album.

#14:  "Ultra" by Kadabra        

Great sound and great songwriting.  Don't know if they're sick of being compared to Asteroid, but they will definitely appeal to a similar audience

        

#13:  "False Dawn" by Spacelord

Spacelord only puts out great albums with great replayability

#12:  "Fractal Altar" by Snail

Snail takes their time between releases, but when they put out new music, it's a guarantee that you'll get a few songs that are among the year's best, and Fractal Altar is no exception

#11:  "Volume III" by Pseudo Mind Hive

I always leave albums under 30 minutes off my best albums lists, but Volume III really feels longer than that, in a good way.  All four tracks are must-owns for true fans of heavy psychedelic rock; a real masterpiece that deserves recognition

#10 through #1 on New Year's Eve!
ULTRA  

 

    

       ROB ZOMBIE:

The Lunar Injection

Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy

WORTH THE WAIT

My only disappointment with Rob's last album was its length.  Lunar Injection is 10 minutes longer, and far more fulfilling.  Rob has always surrounded himself with great musicians, but this incarnation of the Rob Zombie band is Rock and Roll Hall of Fame worthy, in my opinion.  They complement each other extremely well and have carved out their own unique niche in the world of heavy rock music. 

Lyrics like "high above the earth in a garbage can...my name is Sleazy Rider Man...an outer space mother fuckin' boogey man" are exactly the kind of poetry I've come to love and expect from Rob.  All this, delivered with one of the coolest rock voices of all time.  Rob's distinctive vocal tones are simultaneously raunchy and forceful, and fit perfectly the traveling circus side-show freak half man, half monster persona he's created. 

Check out "The Ballad Of Sleazy Rider":

And here's a sample of why you need the physical copy.  Rob Zombie definitely remembers the days when you would just stare at all the album artwork and let your mind wander while listening to your rock albums.  He has always rewarded purchases of CD and vinyl with killer artwork, but this one's got an exhibit for each tune, with artwork and lyrics.

Now a video for "The Triumph Of King Freak (A Crypt Of Preservation And Superstition)"

John 5 is immense on this album; you'll notice it here for sure. 

The best incarnation of the Rob Zombie band is:

Ginger Fish: Drums

John 5: Guitar

Rob Zombie: Vocals

Piggy D: Bass

While there may have once been a debate about whether Rob's solo work was as good as White Zombie, decades later it's not even debatable that Rob has surpassed anything White Zombie ever did countless times (and I have real love for White Zombie)

Well that's my opinion.  Everybody's got one!

-ULTRA

Random Thoughts

VULNERABLE:

In case you haven't heard this yet, this is a man named Jeremiah Perez opening up to us about something deeply personal which should hit home with us all:

ROCK STAR:
Rob Zombie is a lot of things, but the one that includes all the others is Rock Star.  About half of this video is theatrical, but the tune is pretty awesome once it finally kicks in.  This might be the best band Rob has had to date, and that is saying a lot.  I am confident Electric Warlock will stand as one of his greats. So many great tunes on this one.

Pressed for time this weekend, but couldn't resist sharing something.  
- ULTRA